Notable Performers
Among notable performers of "How Great Thou Art" are Alan Jackson, George Beverly Shea, Elvis Presley, Carrie Underwood, legendary Burl Ives, Dixie Carter, Charlie Daniels the Blackwood Brothers Quartet, Tennessee Ernie Ford (backed by The Jordanaires), Roy Rogers, and Connie Smith, whose "inspiring four-minute rendition of "How Great Thou Art," ... originally appeared on the otherwise secular album Back in Baby's Arms in 1969". A rendition by The Statler Brothers, from their album Holy Bible New Testament, peaked at number 39 on the Hot Country Songs charts in 1976. The hymn became the de facto theme of New Zealand entertainer Sir Howard Morrison, who released it as a single (sung in both English and Maori) to great acclaim. After his death in 2009, a tribute tour under the title "Sir Howard Morrison: How Great Thou Art" travelled throughout the country.
There have been over seventeen hundred documented recordings of "How Great Thou Art". It has been used on major television programs, in major motion pictures, and has been named as the favorite Gospel song of at least three United States’ presidents.
This hymn was the title track of Elvis Presley's second gospel LP How Great Thou Art (RCA LSP/LPM 3758), which was released in March 1967. The song won Presley a Grammy Award for "Best Sacred Performance" in 1967, and another Grammy in 1974 for "Best Inspirational Performance (Non-Classical)" for his live performance album "Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis" (RCA CPL 1 0606; Released: June 1974) recorded on 20 March 1974 at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee.
On 4 April 2011, Carrie Underwood performed this song on ACM Presents: Girls Night Out show. Carrie sang together with Vince Gill and earned a standing ovation. Tears were seen in the eyes of many of the country stars present. It was televised on CBS on 22 April 2011, and shortly after the show had ended, Carrie's version of How Great Thou Art single reached #1 spot in iTunes Top Gospel Song and Top 40 in iTunes All-Genre Songs. In Billboard Christian Digital songs chart, it debuted at #2 position and #35 in Country Digital Songs chart. As of August 2011, it sold 236,000 digital copies in the USA.
Read more about this topic: How Great Thou Art (hymn)
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